Peek A Boo Lupin

by Connie Handscomb

Title

Peek A Boo Lupin

Artist

Connie Handscomb

Medium

Photograph - Photography - Fine Art

Description

Lupine
Genus : Lupinus L.
Family : Fabaceae [Pea family]

There are approx. 200 species throughout the world; 50 in Pacific Northwest alone where it grows wild in pasturelands, woodlands, and clearings. It was David Douglas (who was very involved with firs and pines in these parts) who discovered 21 distinct forms.

Lupins are perennial legumes, which means the nodules on the roots are home to a bacterium that changes atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates for the plant. By fixing the nitrogen this way, poor soil is fertilized. The root systems grow deep: some can grow to a depth of 20 feet!

And they grow tall : Arctic lupine (Lupinus latifolius) can reach 3 ft. (1m) in height ; Bigleaf Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus) can grow to 5 ft (1.5m) ; Washington lupine ( Lupinus polyphyllus) 3-5 ft. tall, dense flower spikes white pink or blue native to west coast North America; Common Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis) is more fragile, a delicate blue, resembling sweet peas which bloom in the late spring through the early summer. It is believed this one was the first to cross the ocean to Europe in the 1600's.

The Romans used the lupin for animal fodder. Wild animals are mostly unaffected; however, veterinarians are familiar with lupinosis, a poisoning affecting horses and sheep. Some lupins are important as food sources for butterfly larvae. The silverleaf lupine is one species important as a host plant for the mission blue butterfly, which needs it to lay its eggs. Sadly, both this lupin & butterfly have been declared endangered species & on San Bruno Mountain in California, 2000 acres have been reserved to protect this butterfly.

Medicinally, the white lupin seeds were helpful in times past for women in childbirth. Soaked in water, the seeds have been used externally, applied to ulcers. While the seeds are poisonous, experienced herbalists have also used them to treat intestinal worms.

Sources:
Botanica .. North America [Marjorie Harris]
A Gardener's Encyclopedia Of Wildflowers [C.Colston Burrell]
Encyclopedia Of Northwest Native Plants for Gardens and Landscapes [Robson, Richter, Filbert]
Flora [Brent Elliott]
Culpeper's Color Herbal [Ed. Potterton]
The Origin Of Plants [Campbell-Culver]
Poisonous Plants [Stary; Berger]

* ---------------------------- *
Taken in natural light; Uncropped, : Nature in all its natural splendour.
* ---------------------------- *

♥ Heartfelt Gratitude to FAA groups for featuring this image :

All About Nature
Fine Art Wildflower Photog.
Fine Arts Professionals

Uploaded

May 15th, 2015

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